What does BRICS mean for China?

China views BRICS as a platform to build peer group viewpoints and collectively reshape a global governance structure currently led by Western powers. While China seeks a multi-polar order based on fairness and justice, the document notes that BRICS faces challenges in setting a global agenda, evidenced by failures to agree on an IMF head candidate and the Libya issue. The author suggests that BRICS should focus on internal economic cooperation and a gradual approach to transforming the world order, with South Africa's membership expected to enhance development cooperation in Africa.

• China views the BRICS summit as a mechanism for emerging powers to collectively influence and reshape an international system that was primarily established and led by Western powers.
• The BRICS group is not intended to be a counterbalance to Western powers, but rather a means to achieve more equal interaction and a more representative global governance structure based on multi-polarity, justice, fairness, and democracy.
• BRICS has demonstrated limited capacity to set a global agenda, as seen in its inability to reach a unified position on the Libya issue or a candidate for the head of the IMF.
• The inclusion of South Africa in BRICS is expected to increase the group's dynamism regarding international development cooperation, particularly within Africa.
• Since the 2008 financial crisis, BRICS members have been motivated to find new markets and ensure the stability of a fair and free global economy system due to their significant stakes in it.

APA

Haibin, N. (2011). What does BRICS mean for China? South African Institute of International Affairs. https://saiia.org.za/research/what-does-brics-mean-for-china/

Chicago

Haibin, Niu. What does BRICS mean for China? South African Institute of International Affairs, 2011. https://saiia.org.za/research/what-does-brics-mean-for-china/.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=Haibin |first1=Niu |title=What does BRICS mean for China? |publisher=South African Institute of International Affairs |date=23 September 2011 |url=https://saiia.org.za/research/what-does-brics-mean-for-china/ |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{haibin2011what, author = {Haibin, Niu}, title = {{What does BRICS mean for China?}}, institution = {South African Institute of International Affairs}, year = {2011}, month = sep, url = {https://saiia.org.za/research/what-does-brics-mean-for-china/}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }